South Africa
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Malmesbury
Our Story
A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines was established in 2007 by cousins Hein and Adi Badenhorst after purchasing and refurbishing a neglected 60-hectare wine farm on a granite outcrop of the Paarderberg Mountains. They aimed to revive traditional winemaking methods, and Adi, now the face of the winery, uses only traditional equipment including a horse plow and old cement tanks for fermentation. All wines are naturally fermented, dry farmed, vegan and IPW certified sustainable.
Wines
Caperitif
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
Caperitif existed in the early 1900s, but disappeared with the family who created it. Fast forward nearly 100 years and Adi Badenhorst revives the history and recipe as best he can. White wine made on the farm, neutral grape spirit, at least 45 different ingredients including Fynbos - flora and fauna indigenous to the Cape and herbs, fruit, and spices make for an enjoyable vermouth styled aperitif. Endless cocktail possibilities or simply over ice. Bittersweet, mandarin, leafy. Caperitif = "Cape Aperitif."
Golden Slopes Chenin Blanc
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
The wine is crafted from old vines planted in 1968 on the Kalmoesfontein estate, using sustainable farming and spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The result is a taut, mineral expression of Chenin Blanc, reflecting the yellow granite slopes of the vineyard.
Kalmoesfontein Red Blend
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
The Shiraz and supporting varieties, usually Cinsault, Grenache, and Tinta Barocca, are all hand harvested on the same day. The whole bunches are foot stomped to start fermentation; the destemmed grapes are started in both concrete and large wooden vats. Maturation takes about 16 months in large and then larger casks and vats. Black cherries, liquorice, pepper.
Kalmoesfontein White Blend
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
This wine is always Chenin Blanc based, but the final blend year to year depends upon Mother Nature. Most of the supporting grape varieties are pressed together in whole bunches. Large foudre is used for fermentation and maturation, with the final blend settling in concrete tank for an additional 6 to 8 months. Perfume, tea, stone fruit.
Kelder Chenin Blanc
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
The Kelder Steen comes from tiny bushvines in deep decomposed granite soils near the cellar. Neal Martin of Vinous.com describes it as having an exotic bouquet of Clementine, apricot, marmalade, and beeswax. The medium-bodied palate has a waxy texture and fine acidity, with a fruit-forward yet tension-filled finish.
Klip Kop Chenin Blanc
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
A tiny vineyard planted in 1966 on a rough and exposed granite outcrop. The juice is run off into 500L casks and stays on gross lees until ready to be bottled, without fining or filtration. Flinty, mineral, textured.
Raigrass Grenache
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
The oldest Grenache in South Africa, they say. Planted in 1952 on decomposed granite, all 12 rows. That’s it, 12 rows. Fermented in old foudre and then moved to old 500L casks for 14 months. Fresh, red currant, oregano.
Ramnasgras Cinsault
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
Cinsault planted in the 1950s on a southeast facing parcel on decomposed granite. Hermitake, or Cinsault, has been the workhorse of the South African industry and hopefully finally getting its due. Red fruits, earthy, spice.
Ringmuur Cinsault
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
This Cinsault was planted in the mid 1960’s. A tiny parcel that undergoes carbonic maceration before being finished in a 500L vat. Lifted, grippy, concentrated.
Secateurs Chenin Blanc
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
Secateurs – a type of scissors for use on plants. These dry farmed bushvines were planted in the 1960s and 1970s. Fermented and settled in concrete, older casks, and big foudres. Textured, flinty, orange blossom.
Secateurs Red Blend
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
Dry farmed bush vines of Cinsault, Grenache, and Shiraz (some combination thereof) that are foot stomped to begin fermentation. You guessed it: concrete and old casks for both fermentation and settling. Ripe red fruit, perfumed, peppery.
Secateurs Riviera
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
Ripe, golden yellow Chenin Blanc blended with Grenache Blanc. Skin macerate/carbonic macerated wine. Concrete and old casks. No filtering, no fining. Grippy, quince, and warm spices.
Secateurs Rosé
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
Sometimes Cinsault, sometimes Mourvèdre, sometimes a blend. But, always complex and unique beyond its price point. Currants, spice, rose water.
Skool Steen
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
Badenhorst Skool Steen made from 100% Chenin Blanc. This natural, biodynamic, and certified organic wine comes from a single vineyard planted in the 1960s on Kalmoesfontein, near an old community school. The vineyard's terroir features sandy, decomposed granite soil with large rocks. The wine is hand-harvested, whole bunches pressed, and spontaneously fermented, maturing in a widely used cask for 14 months. It has a light straw yellow color, a fresh citrus, lime, papaya, herb, and mineral nose, and a fresh, concentrated, fruity, and mineral palate with a long, complex finish.
Sout Van Die Aarde Palomino
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
Palomino! Historically called Fransdruif in the Cape. Sandy soils with limestone bedrock. Whole bunch pressed into older vats and then finished in old 500L casks. Pure, delicate, savory.
The Curator Red Blend
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
The other best value in the wine world: bush vines of Shiraz and usually Grenache and Mourvèdre, hand harvested from granite and slate soils, done in concrete and old casks. Juicy, red berry, fresh herb. casks. Juicy, red berry, fresh herb.
The Curator White Blend
A. A. Badenhorst Family
Swartland Appellation
A Chenin Blanc blend from the Swartland for a price that warrants case buys. Perhaps the best value in the wine world today: hand harvested, bush vines, granite and slate soils. All done in concrete. Structured, dried peaches, warm spice.
Featured Stories
About the Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst – A Short Story
Adi Badenhorst, a renowned winemaker and founding member of the Swartland Revolution, brings immense character to his wines through traditional methods and a back-to-basics approach on Kalmoesfontein farm.
Read More